Sentiment is rapidly changing in the corona crisis. While 90 percent of the Dutch were extremely negative about the economy at the end of March, 54 percent now expect the economy to deteriorate next year. The number of people who anticipate a rapid recovery has risen sharply: from 3 to 34 percent.

“It seems that many Dutch people have recovered from the initial shock and think that the economic crisis will last for a short time,” said Peter Kanne, political researcher at I&O Research, who surveyed nearly 2100 Dutch people aged 18 and older. 14 percent of the Dutch have seen their income fall since the end of March, 5 percent went on to earn more. There is no difference for three-quarters of the employees.

CDA does not cash in on popularity

At the same time, the economy is also becoming a more important theme for many voters, I&O Research notes. The VVD is benefiting from cautious optimism and is growing virtually to 43 seats, according to I&O Research’s political poll that is part of the study “Economy and Corona”. That is seven more than at the end of March. Coalition partners CDA and D66 both hand in a seat and stand at 13 and 8 seats respectively.

The ChristenUnie remains stable at 7 seats. The PVV has 2 seats of the opposition parties and the Forum for Democracy remains stable. 50Plus is punished for scheming and plummets from 7 to 1. Think remains on a seat. The PvdA wins one, the SP two.

It is striking that the CDA does not benefit, especially now that leaders Hugo de Jonge and Wopke Hoekstra score exceptionally well. 80 percent of the voters say they know De Jonge. Before he succeeded Bruno Bruins as “minister of corona” that was only half. He is now better known than his fellow CDAer at Finance Hoekstra.
Fabulous numbers

De Jonge received a 7.1 from the voters, a 6.4 at the end of March. Hoekstra goes from a 6.6 to 7.0. Prime Minister Rutte is doing even better and rises from 5.8 to 7.2. Kanne of I&O Research speaks of “fabulous figures”, which you rarely see for politicians. The CDA is now experiencing the PvdA effect, he says. ,, Dijsselbloem and Asscher were the best valued ministers in Rutte II, but the PvdA lost. It turns out to be difficult for a smaller coalition partner to distinguish itself. “The VVD also benefits from the work of the previous cabinet: many voters give Rutte the credits for making the Netherlands healthy after the previous financial crisis.